Something New (and Old) VW Sedan

[Second Air Force]

Thanks, mate! I confess I probably could have completed the Beetle in 2017 but the Kubel distracted me.

I'm rather frustrated actually--I was wanting to work on our real Beetle the last few days but it is far too cold in the shop. I could place a small electric heater in there but I'm using acetone to strip the old white paint off Ingrid and I would probably gas myself in the enclosed space.....! (Incidentally, it's also too cold to paint, but I did some small parts anyway.)

[Second Air Force]

This morning with coffee I flipped the sedan over and added headlight and taillight wire conduits and the heater supply tubes and a few other small details. Once it warms up a little I need to add some dirt and mud residue to the inside of the fenders. I'm still not sure what to do with this when finished, if I should add a lot of dirt to the exterior or leave it more-or-less clean. My photo of this actual car shows it shortly after being built and it is still mostly clean. I think it was actually one of the first Typ 82E cars built for the Wehrmacht and was likely a Versuchs machine.

[No.1]

Make it clean is also fine

[Second Air Force]

Jumping back and forth again--time to fit the top to the tropical Kubel. It's fortunate that I purchased two Kubel kits back in the day. The Afrika Korps version has only the folded down top assembly but the European version provides both up and down tops. On this Tunisian one I decided to put the closed top on. Dad mentioned that his Kubel was much nicer than a Jeep when it rained in Tunisia since the top fit better and there were proper side windows.

[Second Air Force]

Time for the real fun to start, final assembly! Still quite a lot to get done, but it is starting to look like a Volkswagen.

[No.1]

Assembly look like in repair work shop, somehow look similar

[modellius]

in lack of better word, perfect !

[Second Air Force]

Thanks, mates! So much fun when all the small bits start coming together.

Final fitting of wheels and tires went quite smoothly. Then it was on to one of the tasks I have been concerned about, fitting the doors. Each door comes with hinges quite similar to a real Volkswagen that must be carefully filed smooth of flash from molding. Then each hinge must be aligned with the door and door frame so the door will open and close properly. Careful fitting has paid off on the right one, it went on nicely and works quite well!

[No.1]

Beautiful

[modellius]

this is getting better and better every time, well done my friend !

[Second Air Force]

Thank you, friends!! Back home from shopping, it's time to get coffee brewing and then to attack the other door.

[Second Air Force]

All doors today......first the left door was installed without drama on the Kafer. Then I started building up all four doors for the Tunisia Kubel. Tamiya did such a nice job on these inside and out. I found only one issue, and that is to spend some time fitting each door to the center hinge post. I'm planning on having at least three doors closed, perhaps all four, and the doors fit a little too tightly when closed. All it takes is a little trimming and filing around the hinge area and they fall into place.

[No.1]

More cars then Germans had

[modellius]

both looks just fine, well done !

[Second Air Force]

After the doors on the Kafer were finally adjusted a few photos of closed and opened car. Still have some finishing touches before everything is finished, running boards and some other items.

Then it was time to move on to some scratchbuilding on the Kubel. A variety of holders for gas and water cans were fabricated for these cars. I picked two of them and used some Evergreen to fabricate a couple. The simpler one will be used on this build and the heavy-duty one will go into the other kit for later construction.